If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Re: Mannlake

I tried an order of the budget, they aren't bad but I wouldn't order them again. The savings aren't enough to make it worth while in my mind. I would rather order the commercial boxes which are quite nice!) and not have the cracks and loose knots.

Re: Mannlake

It's been a few years since I bought any from Mann Lake. When I did, I've only seen a few budget grade boxes that were a bit warped and a pain and required some camps to get them straight. Most were fine. All of them have been usable.

Re: Mannlake

I bought 45 budget deeps recently and they are "ok". Lots of loose knots and some cracks and some warped long sides, but all were usable. I would order the budget grade again just because of the cost savings. I painted all my knots with Titebond III to seal them. They will all get a good coat of primer and good coat of exterior paint, so they should be just fine.

Re: Mannlake

I bought a bunch of budget boxes last year when they were on sale. I went trough each piece the day they arrived and sorted them. 1- no issues 2- some knots usable 3- loose knots (add glue and they are no longer loose) usable and then 4- warped garbage and cracked pieces. I called ML about the unusable ones and they replaced them for free with no issues. Great customer service.

Re: Mannlake

Originally Posted by Fishman43

I tried an order of the budget, they aren't bad but I wouldn't order them again. The savings aren't enough to make it worth while in my mind. I would rather order the commercial boxes which are quite nice!) and not have the cracks and loose knots.

I have ordered ML budget boxes several times. In the last order, I received 2 ends with splits. ML sent 2 new replacements in a few days. Great customer service from ML.

Re: Mannlake

I've gotten about 100 over the last two years. They are fine. What I like is the milling and fit tends to be very good compared to other budget boxes I've tried. There are a few more knots, small cracks, but they don't effect the final product. I caulk any of those between the paint coats. This business is too expensive when paying select prices.

Re: Mannlake

Am I alone in finding the Mann Lake boxes are a bit big? There is always room for ALMOST another frame, but not quite. This means you have to space them out, which means the comb extends past the frame shoulders, which is a bit dangerous for squishing queens when putting frames back, or you shove them together and have a nearly full frame space empty at one end of the box. Ditto for their nuc boxes, which take nearly 6 frames.

Re: Mannlake

Originally Posted by WesternWilson

Am I alone in finding the Mann Lake boxes are a bit big? There is always room for ALMOST another frame, but not quite. This means you have to space them out, which means the comb extends past the frame shoulders, which is a bit dangerous for squishing queens when putting frames back, or you shove them together and have a nearly full frame space empty at one end of the box. Ditto for their nuc boxes, which take nearly 6 frames.

Are you talking about their 8 frame boxes?
They are 14" wide and therefore have the exact issues you mention but some people use it to their benefit
by slightly shaving frames to get 9 for brood and spacing them out for honey with 8 in a box.

Re: Mannlake

>Am I alone in finding the Mann Lake boxes are a bit big?

8 frame boxes do seem a little big for eight frames. Eight frames and a follower fit perfectly. Shave the end bars just a little and 9 frames fit nicely. The size was "stadardized" at something between 13 3/4" and 14" 150 years or so ago. I"m not sure why they weren't 13"... but they aren't. Just put them tightly together in the center. The oustide frames tend to be honey and they will just make them a bit fat on the outside.